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kategci's review against another edition
3.0
Strange mystery involving very dysfunctional family with a summer home on a lake in Vermont. I liked it, but I'm not sure I would recommend it, because it was a little strange and a little too neat at the end.
iamsatan666's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
There are very heavy incest topics and dialogue, for fans of V C Andrews, really just a gross book and not in a fun way
ash_ton's review against another edition
4.0
I can't believe this took me a freakin' month to read. The only thing I can blame is school, since I am an English major and have to read tons of novels and other things.
I don't want to sound full of myself or like an idiot, but I think I'm pretty good at solving things, yes because I'm smart, but the main reason is probably because I watch a lot of crime shows like Criminal Minds, the Law & Orders, the CSI's, the NCIS's, Monk, and Psych. I grew up watching those and still watch them to this day. So if you want to get better at solving things, watch those shows. But, I digress.
*THIS IS THE SPOILER*
I was just at the sink cleaning my makeup brushes thinking about the book when I suddenly thought, "Keith did it." I didn't know who he was yet, or really why he had done it, I just KNEW he had to have been the one that killed Pony. The main thing that clued me in was when Mira asked him to leave and he told her she'd regret it. It was confirmed for me when he showed up at William's tent along the river, but I was surprised he turned out to be Patrick.
I think Pam Lewis did an amazing job with this book. I didn't figure anything out until near the very end, and I'm still shocked about the complexities of everything.
I don't want to sound full of myself or like an idiot, but I think I'm pretty good at solving things, yes because I'm smart, but the main reason is probably because I watch a lot of crime shows like Criminal Minds, the Law & Orders, the CSI's, the NCIS's, Monk, and Psych. I grew up watching those and still watch them to this day. So if you want to get better at solving things, watch those shows. But, I digress.
*THIS IS THE SPOILER*
I was just at the sink cleaning my makeup brushes thinking about the book when I suddenly thought, "Keith did it." I didn't know who he was yet, or really why he had done it, I just KNEW he had to have been the one that killed Pony. The main thing that clued me in was when Mira asked him to leave and he told her she'd regret it. It was confirmed for me when he showed up at William's tent along the river, but I was surprised he turned out to be Patrick.
I think Pam Lewis did an amazing job with this book. I didn't figure anything out until near the very end, and I'm still shocked about the complexities of everything.
annascarpati's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
bethnellvaccaro's review against another edition
2.0
I would actually probably give this book 2.5 stars. I found the story interesting and the writing not too bad. The dialogue was often pretty horrible. If you read this a a mystery, the solution will probably be obvious to you early on. I read this in one day, which is good for a summer read.
ncrabb's review against another edition
2.0
They found Pony Carteret drowned in the lake where her wealthy New England family had a house. Her son was in a play pen at the water's edge, and he was ok. But Pony, a good swimmer, drowned; and the family strives hard to cover up the details in order to protect the thin perfection veneer the family shows to the rest of the world.
This one just didn't cut it for me. The tropes were many; the so-called shocking secrets weren't all that shocking, and the motive for murder seemed ok but thin and week.
This one just didn't cut it for me. The tropes were many; the so-called shocking secrets weren't all that shocking, and the motive for murder seemed ok but thin and week.
mzand3's review against another edition
4.0
Good plot and good writing. I enjoyed reading it and it did make me think.
leighnonymous's review against another edition
3.0
Upon reading the description of this novel, I expected a surface-thriller with a mystery and action and a characters who served no purpose other than to propel the plot; this was my "fluff" book. It was anything but. Pleasantly surprised by the depth of most of the characters, I mourned the loss of that crazy, younger sister, Pony. I felt like I understood (as much as I was able) what the unexpected loss of an immediate family member felt like. This family, rather than falling apart, grew closer together.
I suspected a mystery surrounding Pony's death. I suspected the family wasn't as perfect as they appeared. Through a tragic loss, the perfect world unraveled and the reader sees the result of years of lying and deception. What was unique about these particular lies and deceptions was that the person who caused them was dead and unable to defend or explain herself. The family was forced to reevaluate their memories of their mother/wife/sister.
One of the final scenes, set in Idaho's Salmon River, made me uneasy and certainly made me request that my husband never kayaks again. Three and a half stars.
I suspected a mystery surrounding Pony's death. I suspected the family wasn't as perfect as they appeared. Through a tragic loss, the perfect world unraveled and the reader sees the result of years of lying and deception. What was unique about these particular lies and deceptions was that the person who caused them was dead and unable to defend or explain herself. The family was forced to reevaluate their memories of their mother/wife/sister.
One of the final scenes, set in Idaho's Salmon River, made me uneasy and certainly made me request that my husband never kayaks again. Three and a half stars.